Tory Farina

J-Term is coming...

I just got a case of the book we are using for our January series and J-Term. Stay tuned for more info soon. I am super excited!

Planting churches...

I am sitting in a room with people from all over the nation who are trying to figure out how to plant more churches. I love spending time with people like this. They are creative, non-conformers, and challange me to think broader than I do. I need this sharpening on a regular basis.

U2...

I am a huge fan of people stretching the envelope, breaking boundaries and shaping culture. U2 partnered with YouTube and put on a free live streamed concert. The implications  are huge! we are moving away from network driven TV and more and more to user generated content. This is an example of our future and what an exciting future it is!!!!

I also love to see people lead/move a crowed of people. The stadium was jammed!!! And four people kept the entire crowed on the edge of their seats. STAGE PRESENCE WAS AMAZING! The lights and picture and sounds was amazing to watch. But all in all it was still just four people engaging and moving the crowed.

Take a look and watch a truly amazing performance... 

(move the time line to 148: to watch Bono lead the crowed into worship...)

My Thread...

I wanted to share with you a meeting of fellow pastors and church planters that I get with once a month online. Matt Keller leads the discussion and then we get down and dirty into what we are dealing with. It is a powerful time of encouragement and challenge. Here is a picture of it in a action.

 

Tory Farina, Matt Keller, Barry Rice, Dan Stauffer, Andrew Fortner, John Youell, Darian Raines 

We all have a funny look on our face! Captions are welcome!

Threads pt. 2...

What did they tell you to do, that after you gave in cost you BIG TIME?

I am amazed at the influence that the wrong people have on us. I think we are good at letting the people who tell us what we want to hear surround us and when someone tells us what we do not want to hear we tend to go get another opinion.

Saul dealt with this and the cost was incredible!!! Saul put is this way, "I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them." It cost him his kingdom and ultimately destroyed his family. All because the misdirection they gave him. He listened to what he wanted to hear instead of what he needed to hear. 

Check out the story in 1 Samuel 15... Who are you listening to?

Ill share a bit more about this Sunday.

 ²⁰ "But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. ²¹ The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."  ²² But Samuel replied:
       "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
       as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
       To obey is better than sacrifice,
       and to heed is better than the fat of rams.  ²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
       and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
       Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
       he has rejected you as king."  ²⁴ Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I violated the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. ²⁵ Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD."  ²⁶ But Samuel said to him, "I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!"

Friends...

How many close relationships do you have?

I asked my Father n' law and Elizabeth this question after reading this article in "Wired" magazine. And the conversation was very interesting as we talked about what a friend is, what a close friend is and how many we feel we have. I have, as of this afternoon, on twitter Following: 441 Followers: 477, Facebook 796 but how many "bosom buddies" do I have? In the wired article they found the average person had 110 Facebook Friends and by looking at the people in their photos that the average person had 6.6 close intimate friends. I just read in this article that now people have closer to two intimate friends.

I am really curious, How many friends do you have? Bosom Buddy, Pale, BFF or whatever you call your peep. How many are you really "Tight" with?

Threads pt 1...

I am working on this last message and am finding more scripture on the subject of friends we should have than I can use Sunday. I will post some of it this week and would love your comments.

Ephesians 5  ¹Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children ²and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  ³But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. ⁴Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. ⁵For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.^{[a] 6}Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. ⁷Therefore do not be partners with them.  ⁸For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
   "Wake up, O sleeper,
      rise from the dead,
   and Christ will shine on you."  ¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. ¹⁹Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  ²¹Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Mute Math...

Here are some pics of the show. I'll post my thoughts when I can type more. Safice it to say they played "dangerously"!

Mute Math...

Here are some pics of the show. I'll post my thoughts when I can type more. Safice it to say they played "dangerously"!

The Nerve...

Here is my final Mute Math post until the show. ENJOY!!! (I could use his shirt for this Sunday!!!!)